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United States Patent7210150
Urushihara , ; et al.April 24, 2007
Title
Optical disk driving apparatus capable of detecting overlapped disc insertion
Abstract
Herein disclosed is an optical disc driving apparatus 100, 200 for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc, the optical disc having an outer peripheral surface, comprising: a housing 101 formed with an loading slot having the optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means 102 for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing 101; and second detecting means 103 for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing 101 after the detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc is performed by the first detecting means 102; and judging means 104 for judging whether one optical disc or partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot 101a of the housing 101 based on results detected by the first and second detecting means 102 and 103.
Inventors:Urushihara; Kenji (Kanagawa, JP), Hayashi; Takanori  (Kanagawa, JP), Kashikawa; Masakazu  (Kanagawa, JP), Asakawa; Shoji  (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee:Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
Appl. No.:10/675,013
Filed:September 30, 2003
PCT Pub Date:May 2, 2007
Foreign Application Priority Data
Jun 25, 2003 [JP] 2003-181294
Current U.S. Class:720/620 720/626 
Current International Class:G11B 17/04 (20060101)
Field of Search:720/626,645,624,619,623,620
U.S. Patent Documents
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Foreign Patent Documents
2000-163840Jun., 2000JP
Primary Examiner: Dinh; Tan
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Pearne & Gordon LLP
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. An optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in said optical disc, said optical disc having an outer peripheral surface, said optical disc driving applications comprising: a housing formed with a loading slot having said optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc being moved into said housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc being moved into said housing after said detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc is performed by said first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether a single said optical disc or a plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means, in which said housing has an imaginary center plane on which a center axis of said optical disc extends when said optical disc moves into said housing, an imaginary lateral plane perpendicular to said imaginary center plane, and said loading slot of said housing having an imaginary disc path on which said optical disc moves into said housing, said imaginary disc path being in perpendicular relationship with each of said imaginary center plane and said imaginary lateral plane, in which said first detecting means includes a pivotal member pivotably movable between angular positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member, and in which said second detecting means includes an operation member accommodated in said housing in spaced relationship with said pivotal member of said first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, a pivotal member to be pivotably movable between angular positions thereof in association with said operational positions of said operation member while being held in contact with said operation member, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member.

2. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said detecting device of said first detecting means is constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on said light path of said light source, and said light receiver being adapted to receive said projected light from said light source, and in which said pivotal member of said first detecting means has a projected portion for having said optical sensor perform said detection of said pivotal member by intervening between said light source and said light receiver of said optical sensor, said pivotal member of said first detecting means being operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a first signal indicative of said first operational state of said pivotal member of said first detecting means when said projected light is received from said light source by said light receiver without being intercepted by said projected portion of said pivotal member, and a second operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor fail to receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a second signal indicative of said second operational state of said pivotal member of said first detecting means when said projected light is intercepted by said projected portion of said pivotal member without being received by said light receiver.

3. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said detecting device of said second detecting means is constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on said light path of said light source, and said light receiver being adapted to receive said projected light from said light source, and in which said pivotal member of said second detecting means has a projected portion for having said optical sensor perform said detection of said pivotal member by intervening between said light source and said light receiver of said optical sensor, said pivotal member of said second detecting means being operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a first signal indicative of said first operational state of said pivotal member of said second detecting means when said projected light is received from said light source by said light receiver without being intercepted by said projected portion of said pivotal member, and a second operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor fail to receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a second signal indicative of said second operational state of said pivotal member of said second detecting means when said projected light is intercepted by said projected portion of said pivotal member without being received by said light receiver.

4. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises third detecting means for performing a detection of said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing along said disc path; conveying means for performing a conveyance of said optical disc along said imaginary disc path; and controlling means for controlling said conveying means to have said conveying means perform said conveyance of said optical disc along said imaginary disc path in response to results judged by said judging means and results detected by said third detecting means.

5. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which said third detecting means is constituted by a plurality of optical sensors each includes a light source for projecting a light toward said imaginary disc path on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on said light path of said light source, said light receiver of each of said optical sensors being adapted to receive said projected light from said light source in association with said light receiver of each of said optical sensors through said imaginary disc path, said light receiver being operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to receive said projected light from said light source in association with said light receiver without being intercepted by said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing, a second operational state to fail to receive said projected light from said light source in association with said light receiver in response to said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing, said optical sensors of said third detecting means each being operative to produce a first signal indicative of said first operational state of said light receiver thereof when said projected light is received by said light receiver thereof without being intercepted by said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing, and to produce a second signal indicative of said second operational state of said light receiver thereof when said projected light is intercepted by said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing without being received by said light receiver thereof.

6. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which said conveying means includes a driving motor for producing a rotation torque, and a roller member rotatable around a rotation axis thereof, said roller member having a surface to be brought into contact with a surface of said optical disc, and in which said controlling means is operative to control said conveying means to have said roller member of said conveying means rotatably moved around said rotation axis thereof in response to said rotation torque produced by said driving motor of said conveying means under the condition that the judgment is made by said judging means as said optical disc is passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results judged by said judging means.

7. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said controlling means is operative to control said conveying means to allow said driving motor to stop producing said rotation torque under the condition that the judgment is made by said judging means as said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means.

8. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said controlling means is operative to control said conveying means to have said conveying means stop performing said conveyance of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs in a loading direction before having said conveying means perform said conveyance of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs in an ejection direction opposite to said loading direction under the condition that the judgment is made by said judging means as said partially overlapped optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means.

9. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said pivotal member of said first detecting means is operative to push said optical disc toward a specific position on which said information contained in said optical disc is read out after said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved into said housing is performed by said conveying means, and in which said judging means is operative to judge whether or not said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved into said housing is complete by said conveying means based on results detected by said second detecting means.

10. An optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in said optical disc, said optical disc having an outer peripheral surface, said optical disc driving applications comprising: a housing formed with a loading slot having said optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc being moved into said housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc being moved into said housing after said detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc is performed by said first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether a single said optical disc or a plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means, in which said housing has an imaginary center plane on which said center axis of said optical disc extends when said optical disc moves into said housing, an imaginary lateral plane perpendicular to said imaginary center plane, and an imaginary disc path on which said optical disc moves into said housing, said imaginary disc path being perpendicular to said imaginary center plane and said imaginary lateral plane, in which said first detecting means includes a pivotal member pivotably movable around a pivotal axis thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and a detecting device for performing a detection of said pivotal member, and in which said second detecting means includes an operation member accommodated in said housing in spaced relationship with said pivotal member of said first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, a first pivotal member to be pivotably movable around a pivotal axis thereof while being held in contact with said operation member, a second pivotal member pivotably movable around said pivotal axis of said first pivotal member after said pivotal member of said first detecting means is brought into contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, an urging member for resiliently urging said second pivotal member toward said first pivotal member, and a detecting device for performing a detection of said second pivotal member.

11. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said detecting device of said second detecting means is constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on said light path of said light source, and said light receiver being adapted to receive said projected light from said light source, and in which said second pivotal member of said second detecting means has a projected portion for having said optical sensor perform said detection of said second pivotal member by intervening between said light source and said light receiver of said optical sensor, said second pivotal member of said second detecting means being operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a first signal indicative of said first operational state of said second pivotal member of said second detecting means when said projected light is received from said light source by said light receiver without being intercepted by said project portion of said second pivotal member, and a second operational state to have said light receiver of said optical sensor fail to receive said projected light from said light source of said optical sensor, said optical sensor being operative to produce a second signal indicative of said second operational state of said second pivotal member of said second detecting means when said projected light is intercepted by said project portion of said second pivotal member without being received by said light receiver.

12. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 11, in which said pivotal member is adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to be held in engagement with said second pivotal member of said second detecting means without being brought into contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing under the condition that said second signal is produced by said detecting device of said second detecting means, and a second operational state to be held in disengagement with said second pivotal member of said second detecting means while being brought into contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing under the condition that said first signal is produced by said detecting device of said second detecting means.

13. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 12, in which said controlling means is operative to control said conveying means to allow said driving motor of said conveying means to stop producing said rotation torque under the condition that the judgment is made by said judging means as said optical disc partially passed through said loading slot of said housing is ejected from said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means.

14. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 6, which further comprises regulating means for allowing said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing on said imaginary disc path while preventing said optical disc from being movable toward and away from said imaginary disc path.

15. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 14, in which said regulating means includes a base member retained by said housing, a first member supported by said base member, and second members each movable toward and away from said first member, said second members respectively having lever portions each having a first surface to be brought into contact with a peripheral edge of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, and said lever portions of said second members each having a second surface extending outwardly from longitudinally outer end of said first surface thereof, and in which said first member of said regulating means has longitudinal end portions and a central plate portion intervening between said longitudinal end portions, said longitudinal end portions of said first member each having a first surface on which said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing is rested under the condition that said peripheral edge of said optical disc is brought into contact with said first surface of each of said longitudinal end portions of said first member, and said longitudinal end portions of said first member each having a second surface on which said lever portion of said second member is rested under the condition that said second surfaces of said lever portions of said second members are respectively brought into contact with said second surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member.

16. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 15, which further comprises urging means for resiliently urging each of said second members of said regulating means in said second direction.

17. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means each is inclined with respect to said imaginary disc path at a predetermined first inclination angle, and in which said first surfaces of said lever portions of said second members each is inclined with respect to said imaginary disc path at a predetermined second inclination angle.

18. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member and said first surfaces of said lever portions of said second members form in combination an imaginary passageway in the form of a rectangle shape in cross-section taken along said imaginary disc path, said imaginary passageway having said optical disc passed therethrough on said imaginary disc path, and in which said imaginary passageway has first and second imaginary surfaces each parallel to said imaginary disc path, and upright imaginary surfaces respectively equally spaced apart from said upright surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member, said imaginary passageway having first peripheral imaginary edges respectively held in contact with said first surfaces of said lever portions of said second members, and said imaginary passageway having second peripheral imaginary edges respectively held in contact with said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member, said upright imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway being in spaced relationship with each other at a distance equal to a diameter of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, said first and second imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway being in spaced relationship with each other at a distance larger in length than a thickness of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, and smaller in length than twice of said thickness of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing.

19. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said upright surfaces of said longitudinal ends portions of said first member of said regulating means constitute in combination guiding means for allowing said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing on said imaginary disc path while preventing said optical disc from being moved in third and fourth directions each perpendicular to said imaginary center plane of said housing, and each parallel to said imaginary disc path.

20. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which said urging means is adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging each of said second members of said regulating means in said second direction with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging each of said second members of said regulating means in said second direction with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than said first resilient force under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction opposite to said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and which further comprises setting means for having said urging means selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to results judged by said judging means.

21. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 14, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member are collectively adapted to bring said surface of said optical disc into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means before failing to bring said surface of said optical disc into contact with each of said first surfaces of said second members of said regulating means under the condition that said conveyance of said single said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member are collectively adapted to bring said surface of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means before bring said surface of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs into contact with each of said first surfaces of said second members of said regulating means under the condition that said conveyance of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means.

22. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which said roller member of said conveying means is supported by said base member of said regulating means to be movable toward and away from said imaginary disc path, in which said regulating means includes third members collectively for preventing said roller member of said conveying means from being moved in said first direction said third members each supported by said base member of said regulating means to be movable toward and away from said imaginary disc path, and in which said urging means is adapted to resiliently urge each of said third members of said regulating means in said second direction.

23. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 22, in which said roller member of said conveying means includes supporting members for rotatably supporting said roller member, said supporting members respectively having outer surfaces, in which said third members of said regulating means respectively have projected portions respectively having surfaces to be brought into contact with said outer surfaces of said supporting members, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means are adapted to fail to bring said outer surfaces of said supporting members of said conveying means into contact with said surfaces of said third members of said regulating means with said surface of said single said optical disc brought into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means under the condition that said conveyance of said single said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means are adapted to bring said outer surfaces of said supporting members of said conveying means into contact with said surfaces and of said third members of said regulating means with said surface of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs brought into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means under the condition that said conveyance of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means.

24. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 23, in which said surface of one of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means form in combination a first gap between said surface of one of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means under the condition that said surface of said roller member of said conveying means is brought into contact with said surface of said single said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means being brought into contact with said peripheral edge of said single said optical disc to be moved into said housing, in which said surface of the other of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of the other of said supporting member of said conveying means form in combination a second gap between said surface of the other of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of the other of said supporting members of said conveying means under the condition that said surface of said roller member of said conveying means is brought into contact with said surface of said single said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means being brought into contact with said peripheral edge of said one optical disc to be moved into said housing, and in which said first gap between said surface of single said of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means is smaller than said thickness of said one optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, and said second gap between said surface of the other of said third members of said regulating means and said outer surface of the other of said supporting members of said conveying means being smaller than said thickness of said single said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing.

25. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 24, in which said second members of said regulating means are disposed in spaced relationship with said loading slot of said housing, in which said roller member of said conveying means is disposed between said second member of said regulating means and said loading slot of said housing, in which said first surfaces of said lever portions of said second members of said regulating means and said first and upright surfaces of single said of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means form in combination grooves each having said outer peripheral portion of said one optical disc passed therethrough, and in which said optical disc is released from said roller member of said conveying means without being held in contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means after said peripheral portion of said optical disc is passed through each of said grooves under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means.

26. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 25, in which said urging means is adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging each of said third members of said regulating means in said second direction with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging each of said third members of said regulating means in said second direction with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than said first resilient force under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction opposite to said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and which further comprises setting means for having said urging means selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to results judged by said judging means.

27. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 26, in which said urging means is constituted by first and second urging members, said first urging member being adapted to resiliently urge both one of said second members of said regulating means and one of said third members of said regulating means in said second direction, and said second urging member being adapted to resiliently urge both the other of said second members of said regulating means and the other of said third members of said regulating means in said second direction.

28. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 27, in which said first urging member of said urging means has a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with one of said second members of said regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with one of said third members of said regulating means, said first and second lever portions forming part of said first urging member respectively having first and second fix ends each integrally formed with said plate portion forming part of said first urging member, and in which said second urging member of said urging means has a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with the other of said second members of said regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with the other of said third members of said regulating means, said first and second lever portions forming part of said second urging member respectively having first and second fix ends each integrally formed with said plate portion forming part of said second urging member.

29. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 28, in which said setting means includes first and second base members each supported by said housing, and first and second cam members respectively slidably supported by said first and second base members each to be movable between first and second operational positions in association with said first and second operational states of said first and second urging members of said urging means.

30. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 29, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said first and second cam members of said setting means to have said first and second cam members of said setting means selectively assume said first and second operational positions based on results judged by said judging means.

31. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 30, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said first and second cam members of said setting means to have each of said first and second cam members of said setting means assume said first operational position when said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and in which said controlling means is adapted to control said roller member of said conveying means to have said roller member of said conveying means stop performing said conveyance of said optical disc when said judgment is made by said judging means as said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved into said housing is complete based on results judged by said judging means.

32. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 31, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said first and second cam members of said setting means to have each of said first and second cam members of said setting means assume said second operational position before controlling said roller member of said conveying means to have said roller member of said conveying means perform said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction.

33. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 14, in which said regulating means includes a base member retained by said housing, a first member supported by said base member, and at least one second member movable toward and away from said first member, said second member having a first surface to be brought into contact with one of peripheral edges of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, and a second surface extending outwardly from longitudinally outer end of said first surface thereof, and in which said first member of said regulating means has longitudinal end portions each having a first surface on which said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing is rested under the condition that one of said peripheral edges of said optical disc is brought into contact with said first surface of each of said longitudinal end portions of said first member, and said longitudinal end portions of said first member each having a second surface on which said second member is rested under the condition that said second surface of said lever portion of said second member is brought into contact with one of said second surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member.

34. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 33, which further comprises urging means for resiliently urging said second member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path.

35. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 34, in which said first surface, of each of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means is inclined with respect to said imaginary disc path at a predetermined first inclination angle, and in which said first surface of said second member is inclined with respect to said imaginary disc path at a predetermined second inclination angle.

36. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 34, in which said first surface of each of said longitudinal end portions of said first member and said first surface of said second member form in combination an imaginary passageway in the form of a rectangle shape in cross-section taken along said imaginary disc path, said imaginary passageway having said optical disc passed therethrough on said imaginary disc path, and in which said imaginary passageway has first and second imaginary surfaces each parallel to said imaginary disc path, and third and fourth imaginary surfaces each parallel to said center plane of said housing, in which said first surface of said second member is held in contact with one of said longitudinal extreme ends of one of said first and second imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member are respectively held in contact with said longitudinal extreme ends of the other of said first and second imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway, and in which said third and fourth imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway are in spaced relationship with each other at a first distance equal to a diameter of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, said first and second imaginary surfaces of said imaginary passageway being in spaced relationship with each other at a second distance larger in length than a thickness of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing, and smaller in length than twice of said thickness of said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing.

37. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 36, in which said third and fourth surfaces of said longitudinal ends portions of said first member of said regulating means constitute in combination guiding means for allowing said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing on said imaginary disc path while preventing said optical disc from being moved in third and fourth directions each perpendicular to said imaginary center plane of said housing, and each parallel to said imaginary disc path.

38. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 37, in which said urging means is adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging said second member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging said second member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than said first resilient force under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction opposite to said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and which further comprises setting means for having said urging means selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to results judged by said judging means.

39. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 14, in which said second member of said regulating means is in spaced relationship with said loading slot 101a of said housing 101, in which said roller member of said conveying means is disposed between said second member of said regulating means and said loading slot 101a of said housing 101.

40. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 33, in which said roller member of said conveying means is supported by said base member of said regulating means to be movable toward and away from said imaginary disc path, in which said regulating means includes at least one third member for preventing said roller member of said conveying means from being movable toward and away said imaginary disc path, said third member being supported by said base member of said regulating means to be movable toward and away from said imaginary disc path, and in which said urging means is adapted to resiliently urge said third member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path.

41. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 40, in which said roller member of said conveying means includes supporting members for rotatably supporting said roller member, said supporting members respectively having outer surfaces, in which said third member of said regulating means respectively have projected portion having a surface to be brought into contact with said outer surface of said supporting members, in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means are adapted to fail to bring said outer surfaces of said supporting members of said conveying means into contact with said surface of said third member of said regulating means with said surface of said single said optical disc brought into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means under the condition that said conveyance of said single said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and in which said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means are adapted to bring said outer surfaces of said supporting members of said conveying means into contact with said surface of said third member of said regulating means with said surface of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs brought into contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means under the condition that said conveyance of said plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means.

42. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 41, in which said surface of said third member of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means form in combination a first gap between said surface of said third member of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means under the condition that said surface of said roller member of said conveying means is brought into contact with said surface of said single said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and said first surfaces of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means being brought into contact with said peripheral edge of said single said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and in which said first gap between said surface of said third member of said regulating means and said outer surface of one of said supporting members of said conveying means is smaller than said thickness of said single said optical disc to be moved into and out of said housing.

43. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 41, in which said second member of said regulating means is disposed in spaced relationship with said loading slot of said housing, in which said roller member of said conveying means is disposed between said second member of said regulating means and said loading slot of said housing, in which said first surface of said lever portion of said second member of said regulating means and said first and upright surfaces of one of said longitudinal end portions of said first member of said regulating means form in combination a groove having said outer peripheral portion of said single said optical disc passed therethrough, and in which said optical disc is released from said roller member of said conveying means without being held in contact with said surface of said roller member of said conveying means after said peripheral portion of said optical disc is passed through said groove under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means.

44. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 43, in which said urging means is adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging said third member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging said third member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than said first resilient force under the condition that said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction opposite to said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, and which further comprises setting means for having said urging means selectively assume said first and second operational states in response to results judged by said judging means.

45. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 44, in which said urging means is constituted by at least one urging member, said urging member being adapted to resiliently urge both said second member of said regulating means and said third member of said regulating means toward said imaginary disc path.

46. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 45, in which said urging member of said urging means has a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with said second member of said regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with said third member of said regulating means, said first and second lever portions forming part of said urging member respectively having first and second fix ends each integrally formed with said plate portion forming part of said urging member.

47. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 46, in which said setting means includes at least one base member supported by said housing, and at least one cam member slidably supported by said base member to be movable between first and second operational positions in association with said first and second operational states of said urging member of said urging means.

48. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 47, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said cam member of said setting means to have said cam members of said setting means selectively assume said first and second operational positions based on results judged by said judging means.

49. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 48, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said cam member of said setting means to have said cam member of said setting means assume said first operational position when said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction is performed by said conveying means, in which said conveying means is adapted to perform said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said loading direction, and in which said controlling means is adapted to control said roller member of said conveying means to have said roller member of said conveying means stop performing said conveyance of said optical disc when said judgment is made by said judging means as said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved into said housing is complete within said specific time interval by said conveying means based on results judged by said judging means.

50. An optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim 49, in which said controlling means is adapted to control said cam member of said setting means to have said cam member of said setting means assume said second operational position before controlling said roller member of said conveying means to have said roller member of said conveying means perform said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved in said ejection direction under the condition that said judgment is made by said judging means as said conveyance of said optical disc to be moved into said housing is not complete within said specific time interval by said conveying means based on results judged by said judging means.

51. An electronic apparatus for reproducing a information contained in an optical disc having an outer peripheral surface comprising a casing and an optical disc driving apparatus accommodated by said casing, said optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in said optical disc, including: a housing formed with an loading slot having said optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing after said detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc is performed by said first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether a single said optical disc or a plurality of partially overlapped said optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means, in which said housing has an imaginary center plane on which a center axis of said optical disc extends when said optical disc moves into said housing, an imaginary lateral plane perpendicular to said imaginary center plane, and said loading slot of said housing having an imaginary disc path on which said optical disc moves into said housing, said imaginary disc path being in perpendicular relationship with each of said imaginary center plane and said imaginary lateral plane, in which said first detecting means includes a pivotal member pivotably movable between angular positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member, and in which said second detecting means includes an operation member accommodated in said housing in spaced relationship with said pivotal member of said first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, a pivotal member to be pivotably movable between angular positions thereof in association with said operational positions of said operation member while being held in contact with said operation member, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member.

52. A vehicular electronic apparatus for reproducing information contained in an optical disc having an outer peripheral surface comprising a casing and an optical disc driving apparatus accommodated by said casing, said optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in said optical disc, including: a housing formed with an loading slot having said optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing after said detection of said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc is performed by said first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether a single said optical disc or a plurality of partially overlapped optical discs are passed through said loading slot of said housing based on results detected by said first and second detecting means, in which said housing has an imaginary center plane on which a center axis of said optical disc extends when said optical disc moves into said housing, an imaginary lateral plane perpendicular to said imaginary center plane, and said loading slot of said housing having an imaginary disc path on which said optical disc moves into said housing, said imaginary disc path being in perpendicular relationship with each of said imaginary center plane and said imaginary lateral plane, in which said first detecting means includes a pivotal member pivotably movable between angular positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member, and in which said second detecting means includes an operation member accommodated in said housing in spaced relationship with said pivotal member of said first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with said outer peripheral surface of said optical disc to be moved into said housing, a pivotal member to be pivotably movable between angular positions thereof in association with said operational positions of said operation member while being held in contact with said operation member, and a detecting device for detecting said angular positions of said pivotal member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical disc driving apparatus, and more particularly to an optical disc driving apparatus to be installed in an automotive vehicle, and adapted to drive an optical disc such as for example a compact disc and a digital versatile disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Up until now, there have been provided a wide variety of optical disc driving apparatus of this type one typical example of which is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication No. 2000-163840 and shown in FIG. 45.

The conventional optical disc driving apparatus 300 is shown in FIG. 45 as comprising a housing 301 formed with a loading slot having passed therethrough an optical disc "A" having an outer peripheral surface, a base plate 313 disposed in the vicinity of the loading slot of the housing 301, and an operation member 320 slidably supported by the base plate 313. The base plate 313 has formed therein first and second slots 313a and 313b respectively having a longitudinal central lines parallel to each other, while the operation member 320 is formed with first and second pins 320a and 320b to be slidable received by the first and second slots 313a and 313b of the base plate 313.

The housing 301 has a disc path on which the optical disc moves into and out of the housing 301, while the disc path extends inwardly from the loading slot of the housing 301 under the condition that the disc path is in parallel relationship with the longitudinal central line of the loading slot of the housing 301. The operation member 320 has a longitudinal end portion formed with a pin member 322 extending toward the disc path. The pin member 322 is movable between operational positions while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc partially passed into the housing 301.

The conventional optical disc driving apparatus 300 further comprises urging member 321 for urging the longitudinal end portion of the operation member 320 toward the center plane of the housing 101. The operation member 320 has a hock portion held in engagement with one of end portions of the urging member 321, while the base plate 313 has a hock portion held in engagement with the other of the end portions of the urging member 321.

The conventional optical disc driving apparatus 300 further comprises first and second optical sensors 360 and 361 each for performing a detection of the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301. The first and second optical sensors 360 and 361 are, as shown in FIG. 46, spaced apart from each other, and each disposed in the vicinity of the loading slot of the housing 301.

The first optical sensor 360 includes a light source 360a for projecting a light on a light path toward the disc path, and a light receiver 360b disposed on the light path of the light source 360a, and adapted to receive the projected light from the light source 360a through the disc path. The light receiver 360b is adapted to assume two different operational state consisting of a first operational state to receive the projected light from the light source 360a, and a second operational state to fail to receive the projected light from the light source 360a.

The first optical sensor 360 is adapted to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the light receiver 360b thereof when the projected light is received by the light receiver 360b thereof without being intercepted by the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301. On the other hand, the first optical sensor 360 is adapted to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the light receiver 360b thereof when the projected light is intercepted by the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 without being received by the light receiver 360b thereof.

In a similar fashion, the second optical sensor 361 includes a light source 361a for projecting a light on a light path toward the disc path, and a light receiver 361b disposed on the light path of the light source 361a, and adapted to receive the projected light from the light source 361a through the disc path. The light receiver 361b is adapted to assume two different operational state consisting of a first operational state to receive the projected light from the light source 361a, and a second operational state to fail to receive the projected light from the light source 361a in response to the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301.

The second optical sensor 361 is adapted to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the light receiver 361b thereof when the projected light is received by the light receiver 361b thereof without being intercepted by the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301. On the other hand, the second optical sensor 361 is adapted to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the light receiver 361b thereof when the projected light is intercepted by the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 without being received by the light receiver 361b thereof.

In the operation of the conventional optical disc driving apparatus 300 thus constructed as previously mentioned, the lights respectively projected by the light sources 360b to 362b of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362 are firstly respectively received by the light receivers 360a to 362a in association with the light sources 360b to 362b of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362 when the optical disc "A" is not inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 of the optical disc driving apparatus 300. The first signals "Lo" indicative of the first operational state of the light receivers 360a to 362a of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362 are respectively produced by the first to third optical sensors 360
to 362 when the optical disc "A" is not inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 of the optical disc driving apparatus 300.

When the optical disc "A" is partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 of the optical disc driving apparatus 300, the light projected by the light source 361b of the second optical sensor 361 is intercepted by the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 without being received by the light receiver 361a of the second optical sensor 361. On the other hand, the lights respectively projected by the light sources 360b and 362b of the first and third optical sensors 360 and 362 are respectively received by the light receivers 360a and 362a of the first and third optical sensors 360 and 362 without being intercepted by the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301.

The judgment is firstly made as the optical disc "A" is moved to the position "A2" based on results produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 and 362. The conveying means 306 is operated to perform the conveyance of the optical disc in such a manner that the optical disc "A" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 is moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path while being held in contact with a surface of a roller member 365 of the conveying means 306.

When the optical disc "A" is further moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path (see FIG. 47), the lights projected by the light sources 360b to 362b of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362 are intercepted by the outer peripheral portion of the optical disc "A" further moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path without being received by the light receivers 360a to 362a of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362. The second signals "Hi" indicative of the second operational state of the light receivers 360a to 362a of the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362 are respectively produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362. The judgment is made as the optical disc "A" is moved to the position "A3" based on results produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 to 362.

The pin member 322 of the second detecting means 303 is moved toward one of the operational positions of the operation member 320 from the other of the operational positions of the operation member 320 while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc "A" to be further moved in the loading direction 13 toward the position "A4" from the position "A3".

If one of partially overlapped two optical discs "A and B" are moved into the loading slot of the housing 301 of the optical disc driving apparatus 300, the light projected by the light source 361b of the second optical sensor 361 is intercepted by the outer peripheral portion of one of the optical discs "A and B" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301 without being received by the light receiver 361a of the second optical sensor 361. On the other hand, the lights respectively projected by the light sources 360b and 362b of the first and third optical sensors 360 and 362 are respectively received by the light receivers 360a and 362a of the first and third optical sensors 360 and 362 without being intercepted by the outer peripheral portion of one of the optical discs "A and B" partially passed through the loading slot of the housing 301.

The judgment is firstly made as the optical disc "A" is partially inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 based on results produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 and 362. The conveying means 306 is operated to perform the conveyance of the optical disc in such a maimer that the optical disc "A" partially inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 is moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path.

When the optical discs "A and B" partially overlapped with each other are further moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path (see FIG. 48), the lights projected by the light sources 361b and 362b of the second to third optical sensors
361 and 362 are intercepted by the optical discs "A and B" partially overlapped with each without being received by the light receivers 361a to 362a of the second to third optical sensors 361 to 362. On the other hand, the lights projected by the light source 360b of the first optical sensor 360 is received by the light receiver 360a of the first optical sensor 360 after being intercepted by one of the optical discs "A and B" partially overlapped with each. The lights projected by the light source
360b of the first optical sensor 360 is intercepted by the other of the optical discs "A and B" partially overlapped with each after being received by the light receiver 360a of the first optical sensor 360.

The judgment is firstly made whether or not one optical disc "A" or two optical discs "A and B" are inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 based on results produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 and 362. The conveying means 306 is operated to perform the conveyance of the optical disc in such a manner that the optical disc "A" partially inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 is moved in the loading direction 13 along the disc path. If the judgment is made as the optical discs "A and B" are inserted into the loading slot of the housing 301 based on results produced by the first to third optical sensors 360 and 362, the conveying means 306 is operated to perform the conveyance of the optical disc in such a manner that the optical discs "A and B" partially overlapped with each other are move out of the loading direction 13 along the disc path.

The conventional optical disc driving apparatus constructed as previously mentioned, however, encounters such a problem that almost overlapped and entirely overlapped optical discs "A and B" tends to be moved into the housing without being interrupted the optical discs "A and B" almost overlapped with each other are inserted into the loading slot of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc driving apparatus which can prevent partially or entirely overlapped optical discs from being moved into the housing.

It is an another object of the present invention to provide an optical disc driving apparatus which can be inexpensive in production cost.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc, the optical disc having an outer peripheral surface, comprising: a housing formed with a loading slot having the optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing after the detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc is performed by the first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether one optical disc or partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

The first detecting means may include a pivotal member pivotably movable between angular positions thereof while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing, and a detecting device for detecting the angular positions of the pivotal member. The second detecting means may include an operation member accommodated in the housing in spaced relationship with the pivotal member of the first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing, a pivotal member to be pivotably movable between angular positions thereof in association with the operational positions of the operation member while being held in contact with the operation member, and a detecting device for detecting the angular positions of the pivotal member.

The detecting device of the first detecting means may be constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on the light path of the light source. The light receiver may be adapted to receive the projected light from the light source. The pivotal member of the first detecting means may have a projected portion for having the optical sensor perform the detection of the pivotal member by intervening between the light source and the light receiver of the optical sensor. The pivotal member of the first detecting means may be operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor, the optical sensor being operative to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the pivotal member of the first detecting means when the projected light is received from the light source by the light receiver without being intercepted by the projected portion of the pivotal member, and a second operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor fail to receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may be operative to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the pivotal member of the first detecting means when the projected light is intercepted by the projected portion of the pivotal member without being received by the light receiver.

The detecting device of the second detecting means may be constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on the light path of the light source. The light receiver may be adapted to receive the projected light from the light source. The pivotal member of the second detecting means may have a projected portion for having the optical sensor perform the detection of the pivotal member by intervening between the light source and the light receiver of the optical sensor. The pivotal member of the second detecting means may be operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor, and a second operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor fail to receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may be operative to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the pivotal member of the second detecting means when the projected light is received from the light source by the light receiver without being intercepted by the projected portion of the pivotal member. The optical sensor may be operative to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the pivotal member of the second detecting means when the projected light is intercepted by the projected portion of the pivotal member without being received by the light receiver.

The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise third detecting means for performing a detection of the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing along the disc path, conveying means for performing a conveyance of the optical disc along the imaginary disc path, and controlling means for controlling the conveying means to have the conveying means perform the conveyance of the optical disc along the imaginary disc path in response to results judged by the judging means and results detected by the third detecting means.

The third detecting means may be constituted by a plurality of optical sensors each includes a light source for projecting a light toward the imaginary disc path on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on the light path of the light source. The light receiver of each of the optical sensors may be adapted to receive the projected light from the light source in association with the light receiver of each of the optical sensors through the imaginary disc path. The light receiver may be operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to receive the projected light from the light source in association with the light receiver without being intercepted by the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing, a second operational state to fail to receive the projected light from the light source in association with the light receiver in response to the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing. The optical sensors of the third detecting means each may be operative to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the light receiver thereof when the projected light is received by the light receiver thereof without being intercepted by the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing, and to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the light receiver thereof when the projected light is intercepted by the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing without being received by the light receiver thereof.

The conveying means may include a driving motor for producing a rotation torque, and a roller member rotatable around a rotation axis thereof. The roller member may have a surface to be brought into contact with a surface of the optical disc. The controlling means may be operative to control the conveying means to have the roller member of the conveying means rotatably moved around the rotation axis thereof in response to the rotation torque produced by the driving motor of the conveying means under the condition that the judgment is made by the judging means as the optical disc is passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results judged by the judging means.

The controlling means may be operative to control the conveying means to allow the driving motor to stop producing the rotation torque under the condition that the judgment is made by the judging means as the partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

The controlling means may be operative to control the conveying means to have the conveying means stop performing the conveyance of the partially overlapped optical discs in a loading direction before having the conveying means perform the conveyance of the partially overlapped optical discs in an ejection direction opposite to the loading direction under the condition that the judgment is made by the judging means as the partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

The pivotal member of the first detecting means may be operative to push the optical disc toward a specific position on which the information contained in the optical disc is read out after the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved into the housing is performed by the conveying means. The judging means may be operative to judge whether or not the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved into the housing is complete by the conveying means based on results detected by the second detecting means.

The first detecting means may include a pivotal member pivotably movable around a pivotal axis thereof while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing, and a detecting device for performing a detection of the pivotal member. The second detecting means may include an operation member accommodated in the housing in spaced relationship with the pivotal member of the first detecting means to be movable between operational positions thereof while being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing, a first pivotal member to be pivotably movable around a pivotal axis thereof while being held in contact with the operation member, a second pivotal member pivotably movable around the pivotal axis of the first pivotal member after the pivotal member of the first detecting means is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing, an urging member for resiliently urging the second pivotal member toward the first pivotal member, and a detecting device for performing a detection of the second pivotal member.

The detecting device of the second detecting means may be constituted by an optical sensor including a light source for projecting a light on a light path thereof, and a light receiver disposed on the light path of the light source. The light receiver may be adapted to receive the projected light from the light source. The second pivotal member of the second detecting means may have a projected portion for having the optical sensor perform the detection of the second pivotal member by intervening between the light source and the light receiver of the optical sensor. The second pivotal member of the second detecting means may be operative to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor, and a second operational state to have the light receiver of the optical sensor fail to receive the projected light from the light source of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may be operative to produce a first signal indicative of the first operational state of the second pivotal member of the second detecting means when the projected light is received from the light source by the light receiver without being intercepted by the project portion of the second pivotal member. The optical sensor may be operative to produce a second signal indicative of the second operational state of the second pivotal member of the second detecting means when the projected light is intercepted by the project portion of the second pivotal member without being received by the light receiver.

The pivotal member may be adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to be held in engagement with the second pivotal member of the second detecting means without being brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing under the condition that the second signal is produced by the detecting device of the second detecting means, and a second operational state to be held in disengagement with the second pivotal member of the second detecting means while being brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing under the condition that the first signal is produced by the detecting device of the second detecting means.

The controlling means may be operative to control the conveying means to allow the driving motor of the conveying means to stop producing the rotation torque under the condition that the judgment is made by the judging means as the optical disc partially passed through the loading slot of the housing is ejected from the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

The optical disc driving apparatus as set forth in claim may further comprise regulating means for allowing the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing on the imaginary disc path while preventing the optical disc from being movable toward and away from the imaginary disc path.

The regulating means may include a base member retained by the housing, a first member supported by the base member, and second members each movable toward and away from the first member. The second members may respectively have lever portions each having first surface to be brought into contact with a peripheral edge of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing. The lever portions of the second members each may have second surface extending outwardly from longitudinally outer end of the first surface thereof. The first member of the regulating means may have longitudinal end portions and a central plate portion intervening between the longitudinal end portions. The longitudinal end portions of the first member each may have a first surface on which the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing is rested under the condition that the peripheral edge of the optical disc is brought into contact with the first surface of each of the longitudinal end portions of the first member. The longitudinal end portions of the first member each may have a second surface on which the lever portion of the second member is rested under the condition that the second surfaces of the lever portions of the second members are respectively brought into contact with the second surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member.

The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise urging means for resiliently urging each of the second members of the regulating means in the second direction.

The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means each may be inclined with respect to the imaginary disc path at a predetermined first inclination angle. The first lower surfaces of the lever portions of the second members each may be inclined with respect to the imaginary disc path at a predetermined second inclination angle.

The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member and the first lower surfaces of the lever portions of the second members may form in combination an imaginary passageway in the form of a rectangle shape in cross-section taken along the imaginary disc path. The imaginary passageway may have the optical disc passed therethrough on the imaginary disc path. The imaginary passageway may have first and second imaginary surfaces each parallel to the imaginary disc path, and upright imaginary surfaces respectively equally spaced apart from the upright surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member. The imaginary passageway may have first peripheral imaginary edges respectively held in contact with the first lower surfaces of the lever portions of the second members. The imaginary passageway may have second peripheral imaginary edges respectively held in contact with the first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member. The upright imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway may be in spaced relationship with each other at a distance equal to a diameter of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing. The first and second imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway may be in spaced relationship with each other at a distance larger in length than a thickness of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing, and smaller in length than twice of the thickness of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing.

The upright surfaces of the longitudinal ends portions of the first member of the regulating means may constitute in combination guiding means for allowing the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing on the imaginary disc path while preventing the optical disc from being moved in third and fourth directions each perpendicular to the imaginary center plane of the housing, and each parallel to the imaginary disc path.

The urging means may be adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging each of the second members of the regulating means in the second direction with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging each of the second members of the regulating means in the second direction with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than the first resilient force under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction opposite to the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise setting means for having the urging means selectively assume the first and second operational states in response to results judged by the judging means.

The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member may be collectively adapted to bring the surface of the optical disc into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means before failing to bring the surface of the optical disc into contact with each of the first lower surfaces of the second members of the regulating means under the condition that the conveyance of the one optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member may be collectively adapted to bring the surface of the partially overlapped optical discs into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means before bring the surface of the partially overlapped optical discs into contact with each of the first lower surfaces of the second members of the regulating means under the condition that the conveyance of the partially overlapped optical discs to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means.

The roller member of the conveying means may be supported by the base member of the regulating means to be movable toward and away from the imaginary disc path. The regulating means may include third members collectively for preventing the roller member of the conveying means from being moved in the first direction the third members each supported by the base member of the regulating means to be movable toward and away from the imaginary disc path. The urging means is adapted to resiliently urge each of the third members of the regulating means in the second direction.

The roller member of the conveying means may include supporting members for rotatably supporting the roller member. The supporting members respectively having outer surfaces. The third members of the regulating means may respectively have projected portions respectively having surfaces to be brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the supporting members. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be adapted to fail to bring the outer surfaces of the supporting members of the conveying means into contact with the surfaces of the third members of the regulating means with the surface of the one optical disc brought into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means under the condition that the conveyance of the one optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be adapted to bring the outer surfaces of the supporting members of the conveying means into contact with the surfaces and of the third members of the regulating means with the surface of the partially overlapped optical discs brought into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means under the condition that the conveyance of the partially overlapped optical discs to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means.

The lower surface of one of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means may form in combination a first gap between the lower surface of one of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means under the condition that the surface of the roller member of the conveying means is brought into contact with the surface of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing. The surface of the other of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of the other of the supporting member of the conveying means may form in combination a second gap between the surface of the other of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of the other of the supporting members of the conveying means under the condition that the surface of the roller member of the conveying means is brought into contact with the surface of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing, and the first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means being brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing. The first gap between the lower surface of one of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means may be smaller than the thickness of the one optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing. The second gap between the surface of the other of the third members of the regulating means and the outer surface of the other of the supporting members of the conveying means may be smaller than the thickness of the one optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing.

The second members of the regulating means may be disposed in spaced relationship with the loading slot of the housing. The roller member of the conveying means may be disposed between the second member of the regulating means and the loading slot of the housing. The first surfaces of the lever portions of the second members of the regulating means and the first and upright surfaces of one of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may form in combination grooves each having the outer peripheral portion of the one optical disc passed therethrough. The optical disc may be released from the roller member of the conveying means without being held in contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means after the peripheral portion of the optical disc is passed through each of the grooves under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means.

The urging means may be adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging each of the third members of the regulating means in the second direction with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging each of the third members of the regulating means in the second direction with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than the first resilient force under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction opposite to the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise setting means for having the urging means selectively assume the first and second operational states in response to results judged by the judging means.

The urging means may constituted by first and second urging members. The first urging member may be adapted to resiliently urge both one of the second members of the regulating means and one of the third members of the regulating means in the second direction. The second urging member may be adapted to resiliently urge both the other of the second members of the regulating means and the other of the third members of the regulating means in the second direction.

The first urging member of the urging means may have a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with one of the second members of the regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with one of the third members of the regulating means. The first and second lever portions forming part of the first urging member may respectively have first and second fix ends each integrally formed with the plate portion forming part of the first urging member. The second urging member of the urging means may have a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with the other of the second members of the regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with the other of the third members of the regulating means. The first and second lever portions forming part of the second urging member may respectively have first and second fix ends each integrally formed with the plate portion forming part of the second urging member.

The setting means may include first and second base members each supported by the housing, and first and second cam members respectively slidably supported by the first and second base members each to be movable between first and second operational positions in association with the first and second operational states of the first and second urging members of the urging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the first and second cam members of the setting means to have the first and second cam members of the setting means selectively assume the first and second operational positions based on results judged by the judging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the first and second cam members of the setting means to have each of the first and second cam members of the setting means assume the first operational position when the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The controlling means may be adapted to control the roller member of the conveying means to have the roller member of the conveying means stop performing the conveyance of the optical disc when the judgment is made by the judging means as the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved into the housing is complete based on results judged by the judging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the first and second cam members of the setting means to have each of the first and second cam members of the setting means assume the second operational position before controlling the roller member of the conveying means to have the roller member of the conveying means perform the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction.

The regulating means may include a base member retained by the housing, a first member supported by the base member, and at least one second member movable toward and away from the first member. The second member may have a first surface to be brought into contact with one of peripheral edges of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing, and a second surface extending outwardly from longitudinally outer end of the first surface thereof. The first member of the regulating means may have longitudinal end portions each having a first surface on which the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing is rested under the condition that one of the peripheral edges of the optical disc is brought into contact with the first surface of each of the longitudinal end portions of the first member. The longitudinal end portions of the first member each may have a second surface on which the second member is rested under the condition that the second surface of the lever portion of the second member is brought into contact with one of the second surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member.

The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise urging means for resiliently urging the second member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path.

The first surface of each of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be inclined with respect to the imaginary disc path at a predetermined first inclination angle. The first surface of the second member may be inclined with respect to the imaginary disc path at a predetermined second inclination angle.

The first surface of each of the longitudinal end portions of the first member and the first surface of the second member may form in combination an imaginary passageway in the form of a rectangle shape in cross-section taken along the imaginary disc path. The imaginary passageway may have the optical disc passed therethrough on the imaginary disc path. The imaginary passageway may have first and second imaginary surfaces each parallel to the imaginary disc path, and third and fourth imaginary surfaces each parallel to the center plane of the housing. The first surface of the second member may be held in contact with one of the longitudinal extreme ends of one of the first and second imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member may be respectively held in contact with the longitudinal extreme ends of the other of the first and second imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway. The third and fourth imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway may be in spaced relationship with each other at a first distance equal to a diameter of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing. The first and second imaginary surfaces of the imaginary passageway may be in spaced relationship with each other at a second distance larger in length than a thickness of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing, and smaller in length than twice of the thickness of the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing.

The third and fourth surfaces of the longitudinal ends portions of the first member of the regulating means may constitute in combination guiding means for allowing the optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing on the imaginary disc path while preventing the optical disc from being moved in third and fourth directions each perpendicular to the imaginary center plane of the housing, and each parallel to the imaginary disc path.

The urging means may be adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging the second member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging the second member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than the first resilient force under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction opposite to the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise setting means for having the urging means selectively assume the first and second operational states in response to results judged by the judging means.

The second member of the regulating means may be in spaced relationship with the loading slot of the housing. The roller member of the conveying means may be disposed between the second member of the regulating means and the loading slot of the housing.

The roller member of the conveying means may be supported by the base member of the regulating means to be movable toward and away from the imaginary disc path. The regulating means may include at least one third member for preventing the roller member of the conveying means from being movable toward and away the imaginary disc path. The third member may be supported by the base member of the regulating means to be movable toward and away from the imaginary disc path. The urging means may be adapted to resiliently urge the third member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path.

The roller member of the conveying means may include supporting members for rotatably supporting the roller member, the supporting members respectively having outer surfaces. The third member of the regulating means may respectively have projected portion having a surface to be brought into contact with the outer surface of the supporting members. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be adapted to fail to bring the outer surfaces of the supporting members of the conveying means into contact with the surface of the third member of the regulating means with the surface of the one optical disc brought into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means under the condition that the conveyance of the one optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may be adapted to bring the outer surfaces of the supporting members of the conveying means into contact with the surface of the third member of the regulating means with the surface of the partially overlapped optical discs brought into contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means under the condition that the conveyance of the partially overlapped optical discs to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means.

The surface of the third member of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means may form in combination a first gap between the surface of the third member of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means under the condition that the surface of the roller member of the conveying means is brought into contact with the surface of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing, and the first surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means being brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the one optical disc to be moved into the housing. The first gap between the surface of the third member of the regulating means and the outer surface of one of the supporting members of the conveying means may be smaller than the thickness of the one optical disc to be moved into and out of the housing.

The second member of the regulating means may be disposed in spaced relationship with the loading slot of the housing. The roller member of the conveying means may be disposed between the second member of the regulating means and the loading slot of the housing. The first surface of the lever portion of the second member of the regulating means and the first and upright surfaces of one of the longitudinal end portions of the first member of the regulating means may form in combination a groove having the outer peripheral portion of the one optical disc passed therethrough. The optical disc may be released from the roller member of the conveying means without being held in contact with the surface of the roller member of the conveying means after the peripheral portion of the optical disc is passed through the groove under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means.

The urging means may be adapted to assume two different operational states consisting of a first operational state to resiliently urging the third member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path with a first resilient force thereof under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means, and a second operational state to resiliently urging the third member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path with a second resilient force thereof which is smaller than the first resilient force under the condition that the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction opposite to the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The optical disc driving apparatus may further comprise setting means for having the urging means selectively assume the first and second operational states in response to results judged by the judging means.

The urging means may be constituted by at least one urging member. The urging member may be adapted to resiliently urge both the second member of the regulating means and the third member of the regulating means toward the imaginary disc path.

The urging member of the urging means may have a plate portion, and first and second lever portions respectively having a first free end held in engagement with the second member of the regulating means, and a second free end held in engagement with the third member of the regulating means. The first and second lever portions forming part of the urging member may respectively have first and second fix ends each integrally formed with the plate portion forming part of the urging member.

The setting means may include at least one base member supported by the housing, and at least one cam member slidably supported by the base member to be movable between first and second operational positions in association with the first and second operational states of the urging member of the urging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the cam member of the setting means to have the cam members of the setting means selectively assume the first and second operational positions based on results judged by the judging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the cam member of the setting means to have the cam member of the setting means assume the first operational position when the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction is performed by the conveying means. The conveying means may be adapted to perform the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the loading direction. The controlling means may be adapted to control the roller member of the conveying means to have the roller member of the conveying means stop performing the conveyance of the optical disc when the judgment is made by the judging means as the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved into the housing is complete within the specific time interval by the conveying means based on results judged by the judging means.

The controlling means may be adapted to control the cam member of the setting means to have the cam member of the setting means assume the second operational position before controlling the roller member of the conveying means to have the roller member of the conveying means perform the conveyance of the optical disc to be moved in the ejection direction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus for reproducing information contained in an optical disc having an outer peripheral surface comprising a casing and An optical disc driving apparatus accommodated by the casing, the optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc, including: a housing formed with a loading slot having the optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing after the detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc is performed by the first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether one optical disc or partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular electronic apparatus for reproducing information contained in an optical disc having an outer peripheral surface comprising a casing and an optical disc driving apparatus accommodated by the casing, the optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc while reading out information contained in the optical disc, including: a housing formed with a loading slot having the optical disc passed therethrough; first detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing; and second detecting means for performing a detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc to be moved into the housing after the detection of the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc is performed by the first detecting means; and judging means for judging whether one optical disc or partially overlapped optical discs are passed through the loading slot of the housing based on results detected by the first and second detecting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of an optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmental perspective view partly showing, with fragmental upper and front plates being opened, first and second detecting means, and their vicinity of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view showing the first and second detecting means of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and surrounded by a circle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental plan view showing the first and second detecting means and their vicinity forming part of the optical disc driving apparatus according to first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the disc path by a line "C to C" shown in FIG. 3, and showing light sources of the first and second optical sensors light receivers respectively in association with the light sources of the first and second optical sensors of the first and second optical sensor of the third detecting means of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 a fragmental plan view showing pivotal members of the first and second detecting means of the optical disc driving apparatus according to first embodiment of the present invention pivotally moved around their pivotal axis while being held in contact with one optical disc moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 8 is a fragmental plan view showing pivotal members of the first and second detecting means of the optical disc driving apparatus according to first embodiment of the present invention pivotally moved around their pivotal axis while being held in contact with one optical disc moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing output signals respectively produced by the optical sensors of the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention under the condition that the one optical disc is moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 10 is a fragmental plan view showing the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmental plan view showing the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing output signals respectively produced by the optical sensors of the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention under the condition that the one optical disc is moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing output signals respectively produced by the optical sensors of the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention under the condition that the one optical disc is moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental plan view showing the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing output signals respectively produced by the optical sensors of the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention under the condition that the one optical disc is moved in the loading direction;

FIG. 16 is a fragmental plan view showing the first and second detecting means of the first embodiment of the optical disc driving apparatus according to the present invention;